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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m, : A LETTER OF THANKS.. .. v Mr Laniach read a letter' .from the Misses Macandrew, daughters of the late Mr James Macandrew, expressing their thanks for the allowance granted to them by the House last session. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that the Government hoped to bring up the federation resolutions on Tuesday for the approval of the House ; that the Railway Commissioners were now considering whether they would be able to arrange for conveying manures, lime, ploughs, and other articles used by the farmers, in tilling ?the land at a reduced rate during the slack season; that the Government had not yet seen .their way clear to amalgamate the Native Department with that of the Colonial. Secretary, but .that the expenditure of the Native Department proper had been considerably reduced ; that the Parliament would continue till the sth October. -..> ,<■ THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR, 3BOARD. Replying to Mr Seddon; Mr Macftrthur said that he had thought good taste and propriety would prevent Mr Seddon asking whether the Public Accounts Committee had sanctioned^ the payment of interest due on the Taranaki Harbour Board debentures, as the whole questipn was now before the Committee appointed to investigate Mr Hutchison's charges. i Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the House, remarking that,if.,the Public Accounts Committee acteel'as reported they had tendered such, advice to th« Premier as to the payment; of this interest as to place the Premier in s-false position. After some discussion, lifr Samuel, aa a member of the Public Accounts Committee, gave an explanation of the transactions, and said that the motion far -payment was moved, by Mr Jjkrnach, seconded by Mr Balkncej and carded iby a large majority. V; ;-/j An animated debate followed, during which Mr Ballanee explained that although the Committee might have acted wrongly there was no doubt what they had done wah in the interests of the colony. The motion for adjournment was lo«t by a large majority, NEW BIXLS. New Bills wove theii introduced* . ME TUKNBUTX's KUNEttAL. The House roso at o p.m. to enable members to attend the departure of the steamer conveying Mr Turnhull's remains ito Timtiru. ■. ■ . ■ j The Home resumed at 7.30p.m* . •<&

A OENEEAL ELECTION ASKED FOB.. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Tanner moved an amendment that in the opinion of this House it is desirable that a general election through affluxion of time shall take place before next census is taken, and that the Government be requested to bring in a Bill to give effect to this resolution. Mr Mitchelson replied that the Government were anxious to make considerable progress with the Estimates before bringing down the labour Bills, but he intended to take the second reading of those Bills on Tuesday. In reply to Mr Richardson (Kaiapoi), Mr Mitchelson said that the Public Works Statement would be delivered on Tuesday next. Mr Tanner's amendment was put and lost by 64 to 6. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Estimates. Mr McKenzie (Waihemo) moved that the salary of the clerk of the Executive Council and secretary to the Cabinet be • reduced from £500 to £450. ! Captain Russell hoped that the com- j jnittee would pause before making this | reduction. His opinion was that by reductions of this kind they would not save £2000 on the whole of the Estimates. The reduction was carried by 49 to 21. Messengers and office keepers—£43oo. Mr Rhodes then moved a reduction of £5 by way of protest against the increases of salaries. i|Carried:by3lto3o. department—£27oo. .'' Mr Seddon moved to reduce the vote by £100. He protested against one of the Representation Commissioners being a near relative of the Minister for Education, and said that it was in direct contravention of the feeling of the House when they decided to put the matter outside politics. Replying to Mr Anderson, Captain Russell said that, whatever happened, the Government fully intended to reduce the Estimates by £50,000, and any reductions now made by the committee would effect very little —only to the extent of two or thousand pounds. The House rose at 1.15 a.m,

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